Apparatus for dipping intracutaneous injectors

ABSTRACT

A coating device includes a dipper having an annular bath section having a recessed inner wall which defines a drain opening. Means reciprocate the dipper between a charging location within a reservoir and an elevated applying station.

United States Patent Inventors Arthur S. Taylor Spring Valley; EllsworthR. Sandhage, Pearl River, both of N.Y.

Appl. No. 871,047

Filed Sept. 16, 1969 Division of Ser. No. 641,639, May 26, 1967, Pat.No. 3,510,933.

Patented Nov. 9, 1971 Assignee American Cyanamid Company Stamiord, Conn.

APPARATUS FOR DlPPlNG INTRACUTANEOUS INJECTORS 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 118/421 Int. Cl B05c 3/02 [50] Field of Search 118/423, 419,421, 420,428

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,252,363 1/1918 Roberts118/419 X 2,449,648 9/1948 Flaws, Jr. 118/421 2,868,164 1/1959 Quinn118/421 3,039,432 6/1962 LeBoutillier et a1. 118/421 3,307,517 3/1967Rasmussen et a1. 118/421 Primary Examiner-Morris Kaplan Attorney-SamuelBranch Walker ABSTRACT: A coating device includes a dipper having anannular bath section having a recessed inner wall which defines a drainopening. Means reciprocate the dipper between a charging location withina reservoir and an elevated applying station.

APPARATUS FOR DIPPING INTRACUTANEOUS INJECTORS RELATED APPLICATIONSRELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a division under rule 147 ofapplication Ser. No. 641,639, filed May 26, 1967 which is now U.S. Pat.No. 3,510,933, May 12, 1970. Said Pat No. 3,5I0,933 is incorporatedherein by reference, and discloses in detail other parts of a completeassembly apparatus, not essential to the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to thecontinuous and automated dipping of intracutaneous injectors of a typewhose structure and utility have been fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,246,647.

Referring to FIG. 2, the intracutaneous injector comprises a handle 22having a base portion 24 with a pair of raised flanges 26 extendinginwardly and spaced from the base portion to form channels 26a. Ascarifying plate 28 is secured to handle by fitting under channels 26ain flanges 26. Sharp prongs 27 extend perpendicularly from plate 28.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatusfor dipping intracutaneous injectors of the type illustrated in FIG 2.

A continuous strip of material suitable for forming scarifying plates(preferably a metallic strip such as stainless steel) is intermittentlyfed by predetermined increments through an automated apparatus whichperforms a number of operations at spaced points along the path oftravel of the strip. The strip remains integral throughout the numerousoperations necessary to produce a scarifying plate and then the plate isdetached and assembled in a handle to form the intracutaneous injectordescribed. By maintaining the strip integral throughout manufacture, theproblems involved in handling small individual scarifying plates areeliminated and complete automation is easily and effectively attained.

Referring to FIG. I, the strip 30 is drawn from a supply reel 32 and fedinto the apparatus by a feed mechanism shown generally at 34. Feedmechanism 34 intermittently feeds strip 30 by predetermined incrementsunder a scarifying plate press 36 which acts in coordination with feedmechanism 34 to stamp successive increments of strip 30 and formintegral scarifying plates thereon. From press 36, strip 30 is fedthrough an ultrasonic bath 38 where it is cleaned in preparation foradherence of a biologically active liquid to the prongs of thescarifying plate. Strip 30 next passes through a dryer 40 where anycleaning medium remaining on the scarifying plates from their passagethrough bath 38 is removed. Biologically active liquid is applied to theprongs projecting from each scarifying plate in an applicator showngenerally at 42, the construction of which will be described in greaterdetail below. Representative examples of biologically active materialswhich may be applied in liquid form to intracutaneous injectors by meansof the apparatus and method of the invention are described in U.S. Pat.No. 3,034,507, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,647. From applicator 42 strip 30is fed under an assembly press 44 where each scarifying plate isdetached from strip 30 and assembled with a handle to form a finishedintracutaneous injector.

In the present invention all operations must be synchronized to themovement of a continuous strip. Accordingly, the rate of operation ofeach of the individual mechanisms comprising the apparatus of theinvention must be synchronized or coordinated both with the rate ofmovement of the strip and the rate of operation of each of the othermechanisms. The apparatus thus operates as a unitary synchronizedmechanism for mass producing these intracutaneous injectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall front, somewhatschematic, view of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an intracutaneous injectormade by the apparatus and method of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the applicator of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the applicator.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail in section of the dipper taken along line6-6 of FIG. 5 and illustrating the application of liquid to the prongsof a scarifying plate.

THE APPLICATOR Generally, with reference to FIG. 3, applicator 42comprises a tank 142 mounted on a vertical backing plate 144 andcontaining the liquid to be applied to the prongs projecting from strip30. A dipper 145 including a suspended pair of cuplike receptacles 1450(FIG. 4) is supported for reciprocation within tank 142.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, upon reciprocation of dipper 145, liquidwithin tank 142 fills the cuplike receptacles 145a which upon upwardmovement wets the eight prongs 27 projecting from two scarifying plateson strip 30.

The dipper 145 is reciprocated by way of a vertically reciprocatingassembly generally indicated at to which it is connected. Thus arm 143connects dipper 145 to a beam 146 which is connected to a crossbar 148forming a part of the vertically reciprocating assembly 150. Assembly150 comprises two rods 152 and 154 held in parallel relation bycrossbars 148 and 156. Rods I52 and 154 are slidably supported withinbrackets 158 and 160 which are affixed to backing plate 144. A cam 164eccentrically mounted on backing plate 144 by way of a shaft 166 isdriven by gear 168 secured to shaft 166 behind backing plate 144. Gear168 in turn is driven by a bevel gear 170 connected to a shaft 172 whichis driven by a suitable motor (not shown). A follower 174 is mounted ona shaft 176 connected to crossbar 156; this follower I74 rides on thesurface of cam 164. It can be seen that as cam 164 rotates eccentricallyit causes follower I74 and associated assembly 150 to reciprocatevertically within brackets I58 and 160 as shown. Such reciprocation istransferred to dipper 145 by crossbar 148, beam 146 and arm 143 causingreciprocation of dipper 145 toward and away from strip 30 in tank 142.

Specifically, referring to FIG. 4, tank 142 comprises a base 178containing a reservoir 180 for the liquid. A well 182 corresponding tothe shape of dipper 145 is formed in the bottom of reservoir I80 anddipper I45 slidingly fits therein as shown in FIG. 5. Dipper 145includes two cuplike receptacles 1450 (FIG. 4) and, as shown in FIG. 6,each receptacle 145a includes a cavity 186 bounded by a high outerperipheral wall 188 and a low inner peripheral wall 190.

As dipper 145 is reciprocated toward the prongs 27, liquid from well 182fills each receptacle 145a, and each receptacle 1450 brings that liquidinto contact with the four prongs projecting from one scarifying plate(FIG. 6). The difference in height of outer peripheral wall 188 andinner peripheral wall 190 serves to flatten the convex meniscus normallyassumed by the liquid. Thus, a substantially planar liquid surface ispresented to each prong so that a controlled depth of coating of theprongs can be achieved. Excess liquid in the cavities I86 drains outthrough drainage opening 192.

Referring to FIG. 4, a pair of cover plates 194 and 196 fit over base178 to cover reservoir 180 and well 182. Flanges I98 and 200 on plates194 and 196 project over reservoir 180 to overlap the strip 30 passingtherethrough and serve as a guide for its passage through the tank.

The liquid should be evenly applied to all of the prongs of the stripbut the strip has a tendency to twist during passage through the tank:such twisting may result in uneven coating.

To prevent such twisting of the strip, a weight 202 (FIGS. 3 and 4) ispivotally supported on a pin 204 secured to post 206 on support plate208. A bifurcated guide post 210 on plate 208 maintains weight 202 inproper alignment with the path of travel of strip 30. The rounded bottomsurface 202a of weight 202 extends through an opening 208a in plate 208.Plate 208 is secured to cover plates 194 and 196 so that weight 202extends through operting 208a in position to rest on strip 30 (FIGS. 5and 6). This prevents the strip from twisting and thus insures evenapplication of the liquid to all prongs.

Press 36 fonns only one scarifying plate per reciprocation as strip 30moves thereunder in single increment stages. However, as shown in FIGS.5 and 6, each time dipper 145 with its two suspended receptacles 145acompletes its upward movement, all prongs on each of two scarifyingplates on strip 30 are immersed in liquid. Such immersion should onlyoccur once for each prong to prevent the buildup of excess liquid. Itcan be seen therefore that the rate of operation of the applicator mustbe one-half the rate of reciprocation of press 36 in order for the twoto act in coordination on strip 30. In addition, strip 30 must movethrough the applicator in double increment stages to prevent duplicateapplication of liquid to the prongs. To accomplish this and to maintainstrip 30 moving through the apparatus, strip 30 is fed throughapplicator 42 by a pusher arm 212 (FIG. 3) eccentrically connected toshaft 166 by pin 214. The other end 216 of pusher arm 212 is free andbeveled so that the tip 218 thereof engages the edge of an aperture instrip 30. A guide 220 projecting from backing plate 144 maintains arm212 in alignment with the path of travel of strip 30. As seen in FIG. 3when shaft 166 rotates, arm 212 reciprocates and tip 218 sequentiallyengages apertures in strip 30 spaced by two increments to pull strip 30through applicator 42 at the desired rate of two increments perreciprocation of dipper I45.

Momentarily in the operation of the apparatus, the coordinated but notnecessarily synchronized movements effected on strip 30 by feedmechanism 34 and pusher arm 212 may cause the length of strip 30 betweenpress 36 and applicator 42 to vary. To prevent binding of strip 30, aslack loop 221 is provided in strip 30 as shown in FIG. 1 to compensatefor such length variations.

Preferably a plunger 222 similar to plungers 80 and 82 (FIG. I) ispositioned over strip 30 adjacent end 216 of arm 212. As arm 212 beginsits rearward stroke, an appropriate limit switch (not shown) actuatesplunger 222 to clamp strip 30 against a ledge 224 projecting frombacking plate 144. Thus clamped, strip 30 is secured against movement byarm 212 during its rearward stroke. Plunger 222 is deactuated as arm 212again begins a forward stroke thus enabling strip 30 to be moved thedesired two increment distance.

In applications where the liquid employed in tank 142 requiresrefrigeration to retain potency, an appropriate refrigeration mechanismmay be placed under or around tank 142.

We claim:

1. An applicator for applying a small quantity of a biological liquid tosharp prongs on an intermittently fed continuous strip of scarifyingplates having sharp prongs projecting downwardly therefrom comprising,in combination:

A. a tank to contain a biological liquid B. means supporting said stripin continuous straight configuration over said tank;

C. dipping means to place said liquid in contact with said prongs;comprising a dipper having at least one cuplike receptacle, saidreceptacle having an outer peripheral wall, and a meniscus flatteninginner peripheral wall, with a drainage opening therein, and disposed insaid tank with said receptacle adjacent and below the path of movementof said prongs, and an arm connecting said dipper to an assembly mountedto slide up and down to reciprocate said receptacle toward and away fromsaid prongs, and

D. drive means actuating said dipping means in coordination with thefeed rate of said strip, so that each said prong is dipped into saidliquid.

2. An apparatus as defined "I claim 1 wherein said drive means comprisesa cam follower on said assembly and a driven eccentrically mounted camin contact with said cam follower for reciprocating said assembly.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a weight pivotallymounted over said tank and positioned to rest on said strip to maintainsaid strip in alignment for even coating of liquid on said prongs.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 including a pusher arm having oneend eccentrically mounted to said cam, the other end being free andadapted to engage said strip when actuated by said cam in a directionaway from said tank whereby said arm pulls said strip through saidapplicator in synchronization with the reciprocation of said dipper.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.5,618,565 Dated November 9, 1971 Inventor(s) ARTHUR S. TAYIOR andELLSWORTH R. SANDHAGE It is certified that error appears in theaboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby correctedas shown below:

Columnl, line delete one of the titles "RELATED APPLICATIONS Column 1,line 6? insert "Handles are fed into press 4-4 where assembly occurs."after the word assembly Signed and sealed this 27th day of June 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 s urs sovsmmzm PRINYING OFFICE 9090-366-334

1. An applicator for applying a small quantity of a biological liquid tosharp prongs on an intermittently fed continuous strip of scarifyingplates having sharp prongs projecting downwardly therefrom comprising,in combination: A. a tank to contain a biological liquid B. meanssupporting said strip in continuous straight configuration over saidtank; C. dipping means to place said liquid in contact with said prongs;comprising a dipper having at least one cuplike receptacle, saidreceptacle having an outer peripheral wall, and a meniscus flatteninginner peripheral wall, with a drainage opening therein, and disposed insaid tank with said receptacle adjacent and below the path of movementof said prongs, and an arm connecting said dipper to an assembly mountedto slide up and down to reciprocate said receptacle toward and away fromsaid prongs, and D. drive means actuating said dipping means incoordination with the feed rate of said strip, so that each said prongis dipped into said liquid.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1wherein said drive means comprises a cam follower on said assembly and adriven eccentrically mounted cam in contact with said cam follower forreciprocating said assembly.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1including a weight pivotally mounted over said tank and positioned torest on said strip to maintain said strip in alignment for even coatingof liquid on said prongs.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2including a pusher arm having one end eccentrically mounted to said cam,the other end being free and adapted to engage said strip when actuatedby said cam in a direction away from said tank whereby said arm pullssaid strip through said applicator in synchronization with thereciprocation of said dipper.